CANBERRA, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Australia's Northern Territory (NT) on Wednesday issued an emergency alert for a bushfire burning south of Darwin, warning unprepared residents to evacuate immediately.
The warning issued by Bushfires NT said that authorities were notified of the fire in the rural town of Blackmore, about 30 km south of Darwin, shortly after 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
"A bushfire is running or contained under very high to extreme weather conditions; The risk of loss of life or threat to properties is almost certain or has occurred," it said.
The warning said that anyone who is unprepared should evacuate the area immediately. People who cannot leave have been advised to shelter indoors.
Acting Chief Fire Control Officer Nathaniel Stanford told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio that he had received reports that structures had been impacted and engulfed by fire.
"At the moment, we're really trying to prevent that fire impacting any further structures," he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded a maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius at Darwin Airport on Wednesday. ■